MANILA, Philippines - Two days to go before the blockbuster fourth fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez and even the fans of the Pacman here and abroad are ready to rumble.
In his home province of Sarangani, preparations are underway for the live viewing of thousands at their gym as they already gave away tickets for the event.
“Suportado talaga namin si Pacquiao, sir. Magaling siya!” said Pacquiao supporter Marvin Dagame.
“Mananalo si Pacquiao dahil magaling ‘yan, mana-knockout niya si Marquez,” said Jerome Abansado, another Pacquiao fan.
Meanwhile in Las Vegas, the odds are not as big ,but they still favor the Pacman.
A $290 bet for Pacquiao will net a bettor $100 if he wins while a $100 bet for Marquez gets $230 if the Mexican wins.
“Tataya ako kalahati ng sweldo ko ay itataya ko kay pacquiao, Pacquiao go go go," said one Pinoy bettor in the US.
"We love Pacquiao so much. Everytime may laban si Pacquiao dito sa Vegas we have a party," said Las Vegas resident Divina Averilla.
For veteran boxing analysts, the fight should not, and likely will not last long.
“What Pacquiao can do I think is win by TKO, cut this guy up so badly that [referee Kenny] Bayless will stop the fight,” said local ring commentator Ronnie Nathanielsz. “The nice thing about him is that the fire within him has rekindled.”
“Si Manny should win via TKO or KO in the 7th round, kasi kung magde-decision pa ‘yan delikado pa si Manny,” boxing analyst Recah Trinidad, said for his part.
“Atsaka dapat wala na syang injury sa calf nya, ‘di na dapat magka-cramps.”
Expert or simple boxing fan, by now most everyone agrees the sport needs this 4th and likely final installment of one of the greatest rivalries in boxing history to finally determine who is truly the better man in the ring. – TJ Manotoc, ABS-CBN News; Bev Llorente, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
source: abs-cbnnews.com
